I have been working on the baby quilt for Cooper! I decided on a string quilt using black, white and green. 
Finished size will be about 48 in x 48 in, 36 blocks total. I am using a light weight stabilizer for the foundation – a technique that I have never used, so far so good.
Back in the day when my children were little I often made the “Jeweled” calendars from Bucilla. I don’t think that Bucilla makes them anymore but I did find one that I like from Creative Connection, Inc. They are fast and easy but I must say the quality for this particular kit is awful. The printing is fuzzy and smeared in places. The package was filled with loose sequins and it is impossible to iron out the lines from the folds. Other than that it is great!
The blocks for Cooper’s quilt are done and are on the design wall while I move them about trying to decide on the final layout. As I move the blocks I am trying to come up with an idea for quilting as well as the color of quilting thread (or threads). I plan to use a black moda dot for the the backing and black moda marble for the binding – that makes me want to lean to a grey for the quilting. Looking for inspiration!!
Gradient Garter Blanket – Caron / Mary MaximJust finished up weaving in the the ends of this cute throw. Love it!!
The finished size is about 36 by 42. I have a huge amount of yarn left!! Maybe I will make a granny square or a log cabin style throw with the leftovers.
This is next up from my plastic canvas stash. Witch Hats is a coaster & holder kit from Craftways/Herrschners.
I have finished knitting two bandages this year. My goal is to have 6 ready when the call to send them is made – that is usually October. 
and next…
these are the fabrics that will be used for the quilt for Cooper.
A Contented HeartThis is another ewe and eye and friends cross stitch project called a contented heart. It was stitched on 32 count mocha linen 2 over 2. This is kit from 1994 but, as usual, I swapped out the floss since I don’t like the coverage of one strand on 32 count.
I have started this pretty knit blanket. This is a Caron project and is made with Simply Soft by using two strands held together. It should go fast since the needles are size 13.
Wow — and how time flies!
Pumpkin Bird from Ewe & Eye & FriendsThe last few days I spent with a cross stitch kit from Ewe & Eye & Friends. This is Pumpkin Bird, it was my Day 13 start from the Cross Stitch Crazy 2017 Challenge. It is stitched two over two on 36 count dirty Edinborough linen. The kit (as with all EEF kits) is kitted to stitch one over two. I decided to buy new overdye to get better coverage. So cute!!
Also…..
The Mary Maxim crochet car blankie kit is complete. These are the last two blankies — this was like doing an oversized sample. Each project was small enough to have a quick(ish) finish but big enough to know if I will ever want to do the pattern in a larger size.
Aqua Crochet Car Seat Blankie
Blue Crochet Car Seat Blankieand next up….
It is time to stitch the background on my Santa With Snowman from Pat Thode of Heartstings. I was debating on making it into a square pillow, stand-up or having it framed. The current plan is to go stand-up — I would like to finish it myself but I have never done that before and will need much practice.
This week was going to be devoted to Middle Earth … but … I caught a crochet bug and worked on this kit that I got from Mary Maxim.
I have finished the pink and yellow blankies and am working on the blue.
Most of my recent stitching time has been spent with The Realm of Middle Earth (from Tilton Crafts).
This is my stitching starting at the top right corner —
very confetti with just over 3000 stitches complete and a zillion more to go. I am using hardanger and stitching one over one.
SK Maleficent (Evil Queen) – page 1Page 1 is complete for my HAED challenge project! This is SK Maleficent (renamed Evil Queen) from the art of Annya Kai. Ground fabric is 22 count tan hardanger and I am stitching one over one using DMC.
Later today i expect to have another car seat blanket finished and then it will be back to my primitive sheep.
Finally … making some progress on my Day 4 start of the Cross Stitch Crazy challenge. This is Primitive Sheep from ewe and eye and friends. I bought this as a kit with 32 count natural linen — as with most (or all) eef projects, it is recommended to stitch with one strand of floss.
This is the third time starting this project…
After all this time you would think that I would know better and not use one strand over two on 32 count linen. It was so light that it faded away from a short distance. On try two I used floss that I inherited from my Mom — she had a really bad habit of winding floss bobbins with floss from multiple skeins. After about half of the sheep was done — I stepped back and saw two different dye lots. This is try 3 and it appears to be a success!!
And this is my HAED challenge piece as well as Cross Stitch Crazy challenge piece #1.
I will post a photo of the art work soon but for now, this is from Heaven and Earth Designs and you can see it here.
This is at 2250 stitches complete. I am stitching on 22 count tan hardanger, one over one. The HAED challenge is to complete one full page, a minimum of 7300 stitches by March 3.
